Notre Dame dominates Syracuse with explosive performances from Citron and Hidalgo
- Notre Dame secured a convincing 93-62 victory over Syracuse in their ACC opener.
- Key performances from Sonia Citron, Hannah Hidalgo, and Olivia Miles contributed to the win.
- The Fighting Irish's strong defense and a powerful third-quarter run determined the game's outcome.
In the United States on Sunday, December 8, 2024, the No. 10 ranked Notre Dame women's basketball team faced Syracuse in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener. The game concluded with a decisive victory for Notre Dame, winning 93-62. Key players for Notre Dame included Sonia Citron, who scored 25 points and achieved 11 rebounds, and Hannah Hidalgo contributing 24 points and 10 rebounds. Olivia Miles also played a critical role, adding 20 points and 10 rebounds to the team's impressive performance. Syracuse's leading scorers were Keira Scott with 16 points and Sophie Burrows with 13 points, but the team struggled to maintain competitiveness against the top-ranked Fighting Irish. During the first half, the game was relatively close, with the score reaching a tight 31-24 at halftime in favor of Notre Dame. Syracuse briefly held a lead in the second quarter, demonstrating that they could compete with a top-10 team. However, the turning point came midway through the third quarter when Hidalgo hit a critical 3-pointer, igniting an 18-2 run by Notre Dame that greatly extended their lead and showcased their skill and strategy. Ultimately, Notre Dame outscored Syracuse 57-33 in the second half, highlighting their dominance as the game progressed. The Fighting Irish displayed a strong defensive strategy, limiting Syracuse's shooting percentage to just 32%. Despite having 20 turnovers, which indicates a need for improvement in ball handling against tougher opponents, Notre Dame's overall performance solidified their ranking and status in women's college basketball. With this victory, they improved to a record of 7-2 and 1-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Following this match, Notre Dame is set to host No. 2 UConn, which promises to be an exciting face-off between two highly ranked teams. Meanwhile, Syracuse's performance shows promise for future games as they have the potential to contest well against top-tier teams. Overall, this match exemplified the high-energy competitive spirit of women's college basketball and set the stage for upcoming challenges, particularly for Notre Dame as they seek to maintain their ranking and enhance their performance throughout the remainder of the season. This match serves not only as a reflection of team efforts but also as a reminder of the evolving competition within the ACC.